The food and beverages industry is among the most competitive and globally-linked of all business sectors. For example, our market research shows that many of America's best-known food packagers, such as Heinz, get 30%, 50% and even higher percentages of their total revenues from outside the U.S. America brand names, such as Coca-Cola and Starbucks are known worldwide, as are European brands such as Nestle. Vast amounts of processed foods and agricultural commodities trade occur on a global basis each year.

On the supermarket side, giant supermarket chains like Albertson's and Kroger are battling the ever-increasing market share and incredibly low retail prices offered in the immense discount grocery departments at Wal-Mart Supercenters. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart is taking its retail expertise overseas. At retail, food is over a $500 billion industry in the U.S. alone.

The hottest growth areas in the food business are in natural foods, organic products, health foods, diet foods and nutritionally-enhanced foods. Consumers to a growing extent desire foods that give them a nutritional edge. Ready to eat and home meal replacement foods continue to boom for consumers who want to dine at home but are pressed for time.

Many retailers, including Safeway, are learning how to successfully combine bricks-and-clicks, taking grocery orders online and then fulfilling those orders through existing supermarkets. Moreover, food producers, distributors and retailers are using the latest in e-commerce methods to manage their supply chains and replenish their inventories. And, online-only food retailer FreshDirect is showing true promise in the New York City market.

This exciting data covers competitive intelligence, market research and business analysis--everything you need to know about the food business, beverages business and tobacco industry, including:

1. Analysis of major food business trends and markets
2. Historical food industry, supermarket and agricultural sector statistics and tables
3. Profiles of major food and snacks producers such as Kraft and Frito-Lay
4. Profiles of food retailers of all types, from convenience store operators such as 7-11 to giant supermarket chains such as Albertson’s and Safeway
5. Alternative foods, natural foods, health foods and organic food markets, along with diet foods, nutritionally enhanced foods, functional foods, dietary supplements
6. Gourmet and specialty foods manufacturers and sellers, such as HEB Central Market
7. Natural and health foods stores including Whole Foods
8. Leading coffee purveyors such a Starbucks and Green Mountain
9. Leading dairy product firms such as Land O'Lakes and Ben & Jerry’s
10. Emerging technologies, including genetically-engineered (GM) foods and coverage of agricultural biotechnology (agribio)
11. Profiles of giant food distributors such as Sysco
12. Profiles of leading beverage companies such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo
13. Profiles of leading wine, liquor and beer producers, along with data on wine markets
14. Profiles of leading manufacturers of tobacco, candy and gum
15. And much, much more about the food industry and beverages business

Whether you purchase the printed almanac or buy a subscription to the online edition, you will find a complete overview, industry analysis and market research tool in one superb, value-priced package.

We provide you with our famous industry trends analysis, statistical tables, and a glossary, along with a database of industry contacts including associations and professional societies. And you receive our proprietary, in-depth profiles of hundreds of leading companies in all facets of this industry—public and private companies, U.S. and non-U.S. based.

Electronic Access to Company Profiles: Our online data enables you to search, filter and view selected companies, and then export contact data into text or Excel, including executive names with titles, plus the company addresses and phone numbers.

Migration from CD-ROM to Online Tools: 2010 and earlier editions of our printed almanacs (published before June 2010) come with a CD-ROM that contains a complete database of company profiles. For 2011 editions (published June 2010 and later), we have migrated to a special set of online tools provided to book buyers at no additional charge. Buyers of these newer editions receive a form enabling them to register for 1-year, 1-seat online access to special tools at Plunkett Research Online, including the ability to view the market research/industry trends section and industry statistics. In this manner, you have online access the very latest data posted to Plunkett Research Online for one year. With either the CD-ROM or the online tools, you will be able to access the company profiles to search, view and export company data and contacts.